The World Health Organisation said on Monday some 10 000 health workers in Burkina Faso will give 12 million people the vaccine by the end of 2010.
The new vaccine against meningococcal Meningitis A, called MenAfriVac, will provide 10 years of immunity. WHO says the vaccine costs less than US50c per dose.
Meningitis is a potentially fatal infection of the lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
Even when the disease is caught early and treatment is started, up to 10% of patients die within 2 days.
About 20% of survivors have long-term problems like brain damage and hearing loss.
Source: news24
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